As the title suggests, we will continue our series of articles on personal injury law by looking at work-related injuries. Normally, your employer has workman’s compensation coverage to offset some of the cost and liability of an on-the-job injury. On the surface, this is good news for you too because it ensures that you are fairly compensated for your vocational monetary losses. However, there are many cases where this coverage simply isn’t enough.
Injuries sustained at work can be extensive and require long-term treatment and rehabilitation. The coverage for loss of income helps, but your resources can be spread very thin very quickly; especially in cases where severe or life-altering injuries have occurred. If you find yourself in this situation, you can turn to a personal injury lawyer to request reasonable compensation.
There are a few important things you should know before you file your case, however.
How Do I Establish Third-Party Negligence?
Like almost any other case within the personal injury law realm, you have to prove that the party responsible for the injuries was negligent or careless, and that it was their lack of care or apathy that led to your injury.
Negligence is difficult to prove in work-related personal injury cases because your employer can reasonably argue that the risk came with the job and that you were aware of that risk when you took the job. This may or may not be true. The point is you should leave it up to a lawyer to prove. Work-related claims are extremely diverse and categorized similarly to the different types of traffic accidents in personal injury law.
The breakdown looks like this:
1. Well-site injuries
- Blow-outs
- Gushers
- Electrocutions
- Leaks
- Explosions
- Dangerous work activities
2. Agricultural/ranching accidents
- Equipment related incidents
- Burn injuries
- Loading/Unloading Accidents
- Construction Accidents
3. Refinery/Plant Incidents
- Burns
- Explosions
- Electrocutions
- Faulty equipment
The list covers the most common areas, but even that is only scratching the surface of work-related incidents.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the 5 most dangerous jobs are:
- Laborers
- Nurses’ aides
- Janitors and custodians
- Truck drivers
- Police officers
These five occupations account for more than 20% of all job-related injuries. The most common injuries noted are:
- Neck
- Back
- Knees
- Repeated trauma
- Hearing problems
- Loss of limb
- Lung problems
- Illness
- Work-induced heart attack or stroke
Some of these cases are harder to prove than others. That is why you need to secure the services of experienced personal injury attorney. They will outline the proper steps and stratagem that should be used to prove your work-related accident case.
Should I Hire A Lawyer For My Work-Related Accident?
Work-related injuries and personal injury cases are serious. Many times, it’s not just money that’s the heart of a case. Your life is on the line here. One of the personal injury attorneys at Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C. in Amarillo, Texas can offer wise counsel and honest advice when it comes to your work-related accident. They will tell you your first step after sustaining a workplace injury to get the extent of the injury evaluated by a medical professional. Even if your injuries seem minor, this step is vital to proving your case later. Amarillo law firm Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C. will fight for you.